West Brom have reportedly rejected two bids of £25 million from Arsenal and Leicester City for Jonny Evans, a priority Manchester City target.
According to The Telegraph, Arsenal and Leicester City have both had their £25 million bid rejected by West Bromwich Albion for Jonny Evans, who has become a hotly contested property on deadline day of the British transfer window. The former Manchester United man is also a target for Manchester City.
Jonny Evans has steadied his image as a formidable centre-back after joining West Brom in the summer of 2015. However, after a strong 2016-17 campaign under Tony Pulis, the Northern Irish defender has refused to sign a new deal with the Baggies, putting his future at Hawthorns under question.
And with his future mired in uncertainty, the player has been left out of the squad by Tony Pulis so far, without much effect on their results – West Brom have started the Premier League season with 2 wins and a draw, conceding just a solitary goal in the process.
Sky sources: Arsenal interested in signing defender Jonny Evans from West Brom. pic.twitter.com/t0Y8Nykq2P
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) August 29, 2017
Evans has been long linked with a shock move to Manchester City, a controversial move given the fact that the player has grown up being a Manchester United player and a United fan. However, West Brom have rejected multiple advances from City and are firm on their asking price for the player.
Latest reports revealed that Arsenal had leaped ahead of Manchester City and were the new favourites to land the 29-year-old. But, according to the report, West Brom have rejected two bids of £25 million – one from Arsenal and the other from Leicester City.
Arsenal have just Shkodran Mustafi and Laurent Koscielny as the two first-choice natural centre-backs available to Arsene Wenger, with even Mustafi being linked to a move away from the club. As such, the Gunners are in dire need of reinforcements in central defence.
David Ornstein explains the complications surrounding Arsenal’s pursuit of West Brom’s Jonny Evans. #afc pic.twitter.com/5Bw6SDAjna
— afcstuff (@afcstuff) August 29, 2017
Evans though, has seldom played in a back three and there are questions as to his viability in a three-man defence. Still, the interest from City and Arsenal means there could be of use in a 3-man setup, with both Pep Guardiola and Arsenw Wenger deploying the formation every now and then.
Arsenal, though, will have to come back with a bid closer to West Brom’s £35 million valuation if they are to land Evans, who is all but certain to move away from the Hawthorns before the transfer window slams shut. The Manchester United academy graduate’s destination, though, is yet to be confirmed.
